Ardmore sweeps Del City, improves to 3-1

MIDWEST CITY — After pulling back to .500 over the weekend, Ardmore coach Will Trisciani said the Tigers had a key stretch this week.

So far, they're passing the test.

Ardmore combined strong pitching performances from Donovan Kuykendall and Chris Hall with 20 runs on just nine hits in a two-game sweep of Del City — 4-0 and 16-3 — on Tuesday.

The Tigers (3-1) took two from the Eagles to extend their winning streak to three games. Kuykendall pitched a five-hit gem in the first game, and Ardmore's offense backed Hall with timely hits in the second game, which ended in five innings via run-rule.

Kuykendall struck out seven and walked just one over seven innings for the Tigers in game 1. The Tigers managed only two hits, but made them count, as Bodie Coffman's RBI sacrifice fly in the third inning gave Kuykendall all the run support he needed.

Ardmore added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Rontrey Burkhalter had an RBI single, Chris Garcia scored on a passed ball and Jarred Hall added an RBI groundout.

In game 2, Ardmore took advantage of eight Del City errors and rode Hall's arm through five. Hall gave up just two hits and struck out eight batters for the win.

Ardmore scored four or more runs in three consecutive innings, starting in the second and ending in the fourth. Kuykendall and Garcia each had two hits, three runs scored and three runs driven in to pace the Tigers.

Leading 5-1 in the third, Garcia hit an RBI double, Kuykendall added a two-out RBI triple and Ardmore plated two more runs on passed balls for a 9-1 lead.

Burkhalter added three runs and Jake Patterson and Braden Lyles each scored twice.

The Tigers take their winning streak into a three-way series Saturday with Marlow and Plainview at Valero Park.